By Peggy Rathmann

Officer Buckle knew more safety tips than anyone else in Napville.

Every time he thought of a new one, he thumbtacked it to his bulletin board.

Safety Tip #77

NEVER stand on a SWIVEL CHAIR.

Officer Buckle shared his safety tips with the students at Napville School.

Nobody ever listened.

Sometimes, there was snoring.

Afterward, it was business as usual.

Mrs. Toppel, the principal, took down the

welcome banner.

"NEVER stand on a SWIVEL CHAIR,'' said

Officer Buckle, but Mrs. Toppel didn’t hear him.

Then one day, Napville's police department bought a police dog named Gloria.

When it was time for Officer Buckle to give

the safety speech at the school, Gloria went along.

"Children, this is Gloria,'' announced Officer

Buckle. "Gloria obeys my commands. Gloria, SIT!"

And Gloria sat.

Officer Buckle gave Safety Tip Number One:

"KEEP your SHOELACES tied!''

The children sat up and stared.

Officer Buckle checked to see if Gloria was sitting at attention.

She was.

"Safety Tip Number Two,'' said Officer Buckle.

"ALWAYS wipe up spills BEFORE someone SLIPS

AND FALLS!" The children's eyes popped.

Officer Buckle checked on Gloria again.

"Good dog,'' he said.

Officer Buckle thought of a safety tip he had discovered that morning.

"NEVER leave a THUMBTACK where you might SIT on it!''

The audience roared.

Officer BuckIe grinned. He said the rest of the tips with plenty of expression.

The children clapped their hands and cheered.

Some of them laughed until they cried.

Officer Buckle was surprised. He had never noticed how funny safety tips could be.

After this safety' speech, there wasn't a single accident.

The next day, an enormous envelope arrived

at the police station. It was stuffed with thank-you

letters from the students at Napville School.

Every letter had a drawing of Gloria on it.

Officer Buckle thought the drawings showed

a lot of imagination.

His favorite letter was written on a star shaped piece of paper. It said:

Officer Buckle was thumbtacking Claire’s letter to his bulletin board when the phones started ringing;

Grade schools, high schools, and day-care centers; were calling about the safety speech.

"Officer Buckle,'' they said, "Our students want to hear your safety tips! And please, bring along that

police dog."

Officer Buckle told his safety tips to 313 schools.

Everywhere he and Gloria went, children sat up and listened.

After every speech, Officer Buckle took Gloria out for ice cream.

Officer Buckle loved having a buddy.

Then one day, a television news team videotaped

Officer Buckle in the state-college auditorium.

When he finished Safety Tip Number Ninety-nine,

“DO NOT GO SWIMM1NG DURING ELECTRICAL

STORMS!” the students jumped to their feet and applauded.

"Bravo! Bravo!" they cheered.

Officer Buckle bowed again and again.

That night Officer Buckle watched himself on

the 10 O’ clock news.

The next day, the principal of Napville School telephoned the police station.

"Good morning, Officer BuckIe! It's time for our safety speech!"

Officer Buckle frowned.

"I'm not giving any more speeches! Nobody looks at me, anyway!''

"Oh," said Mrs. Toppel. "Well! How about Gloria? Could she come?"

Someone else from the police station gave Gloria

a ride to the school.

Gloria sat onstage looking lonely. Then she fell

asleep. So did the audience.

After Gloria left, Napville School had its biggest

accident ever. . . .

It started with a puddle of banana pudding.

SPLAT!

SPLATTER!

SPLOOSH!

Everyone slid smack into Mrs. Toppel who screamed and let go of her hammer

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The next morning, a pile of letters arrived in the police station.

Every letter had a drawing; of the accident.

Officer Buckle was shocked.

At the bottom of the pile was a note

written on a paper star.

Officer Buckle Smiled.

The note said:

Gloria gave: Officer Buckle a big kiss on the nose.

Officer Buckle gave Gloria a nice pat on the back.

Then, Officer Buckle thought of his best safety tip yet . . .

Safety tip #101

“ALWAYS STICK WITH YOUR BUDDY!”

**The End**